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Time limit

Get to your flight on time and improve your experience

We suggest check-in times before all flight’s scheduled departure times to get you and your bag checked in before the flight takes off.

Time limit for checking in

45 minutes before your flight

Time limit for boarding

20 minutes before your flight

In some airports in the Iberia network, security necessitates more time before flying.

Check-in time limit tables

For security reasons, you are advised to report for check-in 3 hours before the scheduled departure of your flight.

check-in time limit

Departures from Madrid

Standard time

Exceptions

Short and Medium Haul Flights (T4, main building)

45 minutes

Air Shuttle

15 minutes

20 min. (no finger)

Long Haul Flights and Africa and Tel Aviv (T4, satellite building)

55 minutes

check-in time limit

Departures from all other airports

Standard time

Exceptions

Short and Medium Haul Flights

45 minutes

Air Shuttle

15 minutes

20 min. (no finger)

Long Haul Flights

60 minutes

120 min. in Caracas, 40 min. in Guatemala

Africa

60 minutes

Early boarding pass

If your destination is domestic, European Union or Schengen treaty countries and you are not carrying baggage, you should go at the Iberia contact points at the terminal half an hour beforehand.

Automatic check-in

There is an automated check-in system in main Spanish airport terminals to cut times and improve your flying experience.

Remember that

We ask all passengers to respect the check-in time limits in order to guarantee that flights depart on time. Any passengers who do not complete the check-in formalities within the time limit indicated will not be accepted for the flight, and the carrier will have no liability for their non-acceptance.

You should always carry updated travel documentation: National identification card and/or passport for EU and Schengen origins and destinations; Passport and visas for other destination and origin countries.

The American authorities have introduced additional security controls for all passengers travelling to the United States. This process will increase check-in and boarding times. Iberia therefore requests that you report to the check-in desk at least four hours before departure if you are travelling from Madrid, or that you proceed to the boarding gate as early as possible if you are in transit. Additional security controls will also be carried out when boarding flights to the United States from any other Spanish airport.

Remember, you need to arrive at the airport at least three hours before the departure of your flight.

For flights to the United States of America, please make sure you arrive at the airport check-in desk at least four hours before departure, and please proceed to the boarding gate 90 minutes before your flight to carry out all the security procedures.

Check-in time limit:

From and to Barcelona

Check-in at the airport opens four hours before the flight and closes 60 minutes before the scheduled departure.

From and to Paris Orly

At most airports check-in opens four hours before the flight and closes 90 minutes before the scheduled departure.

And remember

Check in early.

Make sure you arrive at the airport in good time to go through all the security controls.

If you do not arrive within the time limit you may be forced to cancel your ticket.

Always have your documentation on hand.

There are boarding and check-in systems that cut down on time.

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